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Some say "oligarchs" are running our country...

Posted by scott on April 2, 2025, 1:15 pm

That just sounds like so much spin to me...I'm thinking it's just another word to confuse and divide people.

I wonder what the next "word" will be.... "matriarchal" maybe?

TRANSactional

Posted by GOG on April 4, 2025, 8:40 pm, in reply to "Some say "oligarchs" are running our country..."

That's been the case for decades.

Posted by 7:77 on April 2, 2025, 2:48 pm, in reply to "Some say "oligarchs" are running our country..."

With the exception of a tiny handful of genuine altruists, the absolute priority of the professional political class in America is re-election. Campaigns are expensive. Those expensive campaigns are, overwhelmingly, financed mostly by very deep-pocketed individuals and corporate entities, rendering politicians beholden to them. The US has been a de facto oligarchy for many decades.

seems it's more of a buzz word for all the left leaning recently

Posted by scott on April 2, 2025, 3:48 pm, in reply to "That's been the case for decades."

who feel it's their best argument for our current administration's woes..

I believe you....however a search of the top 10 showed this:

The political affiliations of the top 10 wealthiest Americans can be complex, as many of them contribute to both parties depending on the issue or election. Here's a general overview based on publicly available information:

1. **Elon Musk** – Has expressed support for both parties but recently leaned toward Republican policies.
2. **Jeff Bezos** – Known for donating to Democratic causes.
3. **Mark Zuckerberg** – Has contributed to both parties, though his company has faced scrutiny from both sides.
4. **Larry Ellison** – A significant donor to Republican campaigns.
5. **Warren Buffett** – Typically supports Democratic candidates.
6. **Larry Page** – Political contributions lean Democratic.
7. **Sergey Brin** – Similar to Larry Page, leans Democratic.
8. **Steve Ballmer** – Has supported Democratic initiatives.
9. **Bill Gates** – Focuses on philanthropy but has supported Democratic policies.
10. **Michael Bloomberg** – A prominent Democrat and former presidential candidate.

These affiliations can shift over time, especially as political landscapes evolve.

That's 3 Republican/or supporters of their ideals vrs 7 democrats...who are pretty much party line from a minimal search...

My point is in the media's journalistic way... the fickle finger points to whoever is in power... they didn't outright do that for every other administration, since I've been alive anyways.. as an arguement to stir up the country.

It's my opinion the mainstream media often focuses on broader themes like inequality or corruption rather than explicitly labeling it as "oligarchy." Just the latest flavor of dissection.

It's just another broader divisory tactic, imho, and it appears in an unhealthy way.

Those are PARTY affiliations. And I think that they are mixed illustrates my point.

Posted by 7:77 on April 2, 2025, 7:57 pm, in reply to "seems it's more of a buzz word for all the left leaning recently"

The "Big Two" parties differ (greatly) on lots of largely social issues. On matters of genuine fiscal impact, not so much. That's where the real divisory tactics lie, imo: keep Americans fighting over social issues (many of them of trivial actual import) while ensuring the relentless shift of capital to the tip-top of the pyramid continues unabated. That's what makes the enormous expenditures on purchasing politicians such a good investment.

It's untenable in the longer run, of course. Oligarchic late-stage capitalism has no self-arresting mechanism and will eventually engender violent resistance and overthrow when it results in desperation among a large enough segment of the "serfs."

well, this "serf" can't rely on either ... them or us... but you've known me long enough by now

Posted by scott on April 2, 2025, 11:05 pm, in reply to "Those are PARTY affiliations. And I think that they are mixed illustrates my point."

to know that, I'm sure.

It is, at times, an unpleasant business, this life. I'm sorry you have to return for some assumed unpleasant business of your own that you stated elsewhere. Sorry it can't be otherwise...unless it can

My son's girlfriend has conquered much unpleasant things in her life, a broken home, alcoholism, abuse...she quit drinking, broke off toxic friendships,with uncaring souls, and is in the mode of deliberately mending relationships with her still alcoholic family.

Political affiliation be damned she tries to purge the hard things and influences... but they happen despite even mended course corrections with supporting love around her. That didn't stop her friend at work from ending his life this last week and sending it all into a tailspin for her and us...we are, as you must know, all affected by the actions of others . Not their personal politics, but private ones... and it's because of them ... humans are fragile, tragic, and in dire need of love and answers...not whatever we're asked to believe about or for one another..but what is actually the truth about ourselves .. rich and poor...

And it's easy to blame oligarchs.. distant usurpers of what we think is freedom but honestly, as you say seeking riches and power with their means...and not with the only true leading we all need...God.

My posts and messages will always be about that same core thing.. we all need to be saved ..from ourselves most of all.

I hope your visit back has pleasant moments for you to enjoy on you travel here Sara... If it's to Portland, spring has sprung to some degree, and things are growing again...and that's the better part that this life offers ..take care .. still a friend and at this point, no use not being one.

s... I've been writing to "Chelsea" and hoping to help her through this grieving time ..not many are good at it, and even in my ICU experience dealing with those who tried ending to various degrees of success or failure.. I've seen the Lord change some with amazing clarity to a better path ..and that, I'm aware, is why I'm here. I'm in no hurry..God is good

scott

More than a buzz word, a basic fact of government.

Posted by Christopher Blackwell on April 2, 2025, 5:13 pm, in reply to "seems it's more of a buzz word for all the left leaning recently"

Scott, Who you think created our government, the wealthy, in fact whether you could vote or not depended on how much property that you owned, same for your ability to run for office. It is the reason the wealthy can cheat on their finances, and mostly get away with crime, here and elsewhere.

Governments are only created by the wealthy and powerful, and naturally government's main purpose is to protect the wealth and power of those people. True in all countries, regardless of economic or political system. In a communist country, the wealthy and powerful are the Party leaders.

here's a more important fact of life than so called power

Posted by scott on April 2, 2025, 9:03 pm, in reply to " More than a buzz word, a basic fact of government."

Let me give you a basic fact of mankind... From top to bottom, there is no significant difference, high and low born .rich or poor..Let me tell you a short story to illustrate my point...

A few years back, my wife and I were in the market for a house in Beaverton. An open house in a neighborhood we considered amenable looked size wise, updated features, and price wise very attractive. We felt eager to go through it with positive intentions.

As we entered, the updates and layout were very attractive to us, we were excited because it seemed very few buyers had shown. An unseen but tense sense came upon us as we considered our opinions unsettled. The last room we visited was the master bedroom upstairs. And there came a grieving perception... opening the closet door my wife noticed a stain that hadn't been thoroughly removed and it triggered a question for her to the agent.

"Why does it look like a murder scene not covered up well enough?" His surprising answer was, "How did you know that?"

We left shortly after and decided this place wasn't all that... She checked the Internet only to find a triple murder had been there ..and call me pessimistic, but the undisclosed facts only ensured my perspective, mankind is lost to the bone....even the " good ones".

So, in politics.. it's just another one or group, who thinks spreading trash about another hides their own sin....

It doesn't. The stain is still there. We witness it in the rich .. and the poor... And I'm not buying it ..you shouldn't either.

And that's the most basic fact. Turn to God .. or see your own turn .. protect what's most important, God's gift to you... life.

Fact.

Re: here's a more important fact of life than so called power

Posted by Christopher Blackwell on April 3, 2025, 11:37 am, in reply to "here's a more important fact of life than so called power"

Scott,

Wealth and Power seem to be rather addictive and seem often lead to corruption. Both our legal system and economic system seems to protect the wealthy from punishment if they do break the laws and rule, unless they are hurting other wealthy people.

I have little interest in having wealth or power, so I am not certain how I would act if I had either, though I would like to believe I would be much the same as I am now.

Being an old man brings adaption to whatever comes my way. Death is never far away and has been that way since 1993 and various health issues. But so far it has been an interesting life, with a variety of adventures.

Life is still interesting, I make sure to appreciate what I have while I have it, but I am no afraid of dying when my time comes. My doctors are instructed not to revive me if I die. I have lived beyond the average life span of men here in the United States.

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